6a Architects designed this new contemporary art gallery in Spitalfields, East London in 2009. It is a combination of a restored house that originally belonged to silk mercers in the 18th Century, and new additions. The architect has deliberately retained traces of the history of the original building, including keeping charred timbers from a fire that ravaged the place.

Every element is carefully considered. In keeping with the sense of history and the overlay of human experience, 6a designed simple doorknobs that are indented with a thumb print and retain the texture of the sand that was used in the casting process.